AT COLLEGE: Dec. 25, 2025
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 1 day, 1 hour AGO
Tori Younker
Corban women's basketball
Younker, a 5-foot-7 redshirt senior guard from Coeur d'Alene High, is averaging 10.3 points and 3.6 rebounds in 24.5 minutes per game for the NAIA Warriors (10-2) of Salem, Ore. Younker has started all 12 games for Corban this season.
Derek Pearse
Montana Tech football
Pearse, a 6-foot-3, 250-pound, graduate student tight end from Post Falls High, was named an honorable mention to the Victory Sports All-American team, the school announced on Monday. Pearse caught 27 passes for 345 yards and four touchdowns this season for the Orediggers (12-1).
Capri Sims
Central Washington women's basketball
Sims, a 6-foot junior forward from Post Falls High, was named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Week after multiple double-digit games during the winter break.
On Dec. 15 at Cal State-Los Angeles, Sims had 17 points, four rebounds and four assists in a 74-59 Wildcats win. On Dec. 16 at Cal State San Marcos, Sims had 13 points and 15 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season and also had three assists and a blocked shot. In Central Washington's home opener on Dec. 20 against Walla Walla, Sims had 20 points, six rebounds and two assists. She did not have a turnover in any of the three games. "Capri's performances last week were critical in our ability to get three wins, especially starting off against Cal State-Los Angeles after our first loss," Central Washington coach Radi Richardson said. "She came out with an effort and intent to win, and you saw that specifically on the glass with seven offensive rebounds against Cal State-San Marcos. She was extremely efficient offensively, which is phenomenal for her position, especially with the amount of shots we are asking her to take. To have zero turnovers with how much she handles the ball shows that she is playing at an elite level. It is fun to see how much she has developed in terms of her offense, defense and mentality." It is her third time to receive the honor in her career, and first this season.
Katie (Baker) Faulkner
Pepperdine women's basketball
The second-year head coach, who played basketball at Lake City High and attended Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy, has the Waves (9-3) off to the program's best start in 45 years. Pepperdine plays at Washington State on Sunday at noon, and at Gonzaga on Tuesday at 6 p.m., to open West Coast Conference play. The Waves were 8-22 in 2024-25, Faulkner's first season.